Overview
Prof Helmut Koerber, Senior Consultant and CEO of APC Angewandte Physik Consulting AG, Switzerland and a lecturing pro¬fessor at Uni¬versity of Furtwangen (HFU), Germany visited the Wessex Institute to present a three-day course on Project Economic Evaluation and Financial Modelling to a group of participants from Spain and the UK. The course was aimed at all those who want to demonstrate and prove that the implementation of a good technical project is also financially advantageous. The participants learnt how to demonstrate the financial feasibility of their project through a step-by-step approach and various hands-on exercises of real projects.
Course Programme
Over three days, the course provided a comprehensive exploration of economic and financial calculations. It began with foundational concepts, such as the basics of economic calculations and the cost side of a project. Participants then examined cost comparison calculations, investment costs, and the various incomes and returns a project might generate. An evaluation parameter is the Return on Investment (RoI). The sessions also covered the critical role of databases in financial project calculations and introduced dynamic methods to enhance these analyses.
As the course progressed, participants delved into more advanced topics, including the calculation of Net Present Value (NPV) and the comparison of projects under different financial aspects. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) was thoroughly explored, along with techniques for financial risk assessment of a project. The course concluded with a summary and an engaging discussion, allowing participants to consolidate their understanding and address any remaining questions.
The participants of the course also recognized the major advantages of evaluating projects economically using profitability calculations. Example: If an existing problem - e.g., no electricity supply for the people of small town in Peru - is to be eliminated, there are usually several solutions - e.g., diesel or coal-fired power plant or hydroelectric power plant. By calculating parameters such as ROI and NPV, these can be compared in terms of profitability. The great thing about this is that the most profitable project will be identified, for which a bank is also keen to provide the financing.
Presenter
Prof Helmut Koerber, Dipl.-Phys. (MSc), Dr (PhD) of Engineering, is a Senior Consultant and CEO of APC Angewandte Physik (Applied Physics) Consulting AG in Baar, Switzerland. He also serves as a lecturing professor at the University of Furtwangen (HFU) in Germany’s Black Forest region, and formerly held a teaching position at HTW University of Applied Sciences in Berlin.
Prof. Koerber advises companies, governmental bodies, and NGOs on topics such as energy efficiency, industrial risk and safety, accident prevention, and environmental protection, always including comprehensive financial feasibility assessments. His primary research interests include biomass-to-energy technologies, Critical Infrastructures (Crit-Is)—with a focus on the security of electricity supply—and core melting phenomena in light water reactors, offering crucial early insights into the Fukushima nuclear accident.
With professional experience spanning North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, Prof. Koerber has led and contributed to a wide array of international projects in sectors such as power generation, chemical processing, textiles, agriculture, waste incineration, oil refining, and mining. He is also a seasoned trainer, having delivered over 100 postgraduate courses, and is known for his ability to effectively teach both technical and non-technical audiences.
He holds a German federal license as an expert in Environmental Protection and Safety Technology under §29a BImSchG (Federal Emission Control Act). An accomplished author, he has written several books and educational materials for instructors, and has published extensively in scientific journals, conference proceedings, and government and industry reports.
For further information and details of the next event please contact:
Jane Chantler
Wessex Institute
Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst
Southampton, SO40 7AA
Tel: 44 (0) 238 029 3223
Fax: 44 (0) 238 029 2853
Course Photos
Wessex Institute